Hike Soldier's Delight Recreation Area - Moderate 4.6 miles

Saturday's forecast is so warm and wet that we might go paddling instead. But Sunday looks like a gorgeous sunny day, so let's hike at a favorite that we skipped last year.

Soldier's Delight is an environmental preserve that encompasses over three square miles of serpentine barrens landscape. This is a setting that would seem more familiar in Northern California, rather than just outside of Baltimore. You're likely to encounter landscapes and several types of plants you never see here in Maryland. We'll also pass by a defunct mine, which was for several decades the world's primary source of chromium. Learn more about this unique landscape here:

https://dnr.maryland.gov/wildlife/Pages/NaturalAreas/Central/Soldiers-Delight.aspx

We'll start from the visitor center parking lot and do a figure-8 of the entire park, hitting the Serpentine, Choate, and Red Run trails. Total distance will be about 4.6 miles through gently sloping terrain, with a total elevation change of around 300'. Please give yourself enough time to find a parking spot and find the group. We will start promptly at 10:30. This is a fairly rocky trail in a few spots, so be sure to wear good shoes.

Follow our route on Alltrails here

There is limited parking here, so I have to strictly limit attendance. Please only sign up if you are certain that you can make it. Park at the Serpentine Trailhead (overlook) if the parking lot is full.

We got spoiled with lunch within walking distance last week, but Owings Mill Station is still fairly close by and has a number of options. Chime in if you've got a favorite.